THE manager of a Merseyside chemical company is facing jail after his factory was used to make amphetamine.

Liverpool crown court heard that the factory Sanchem had the potential to make enormous profits from the drugs.

Father-of-one Peter Sanders, 46, of Heath Castle Farm, Narrow Moss Lane, Scarisbrick, today pleaded guilty to permitting Sanchem to be used to produce the class B drug between October 19 last year and March 20.

Sanders owns Sanchem, based at Knowsley industrial estate. It was there that chemist Ian Kilner employed by Sanders, plotted to produce large amounts of amphetamine.

Kilner, 52, of Hatfield Road, Southport, had already pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply the drug.

Leonard Briscoe-Stubbs, 54, of Rullerton Road, Wallasey, and Anthony Bodell, 50, of New Midge Hall Farm, Scarisbrick, also pleaded guilty to the charge.

James Dalton, 39, of Richard Kelly Drive, Norris Green, pleaded guilty to possessing amphetamine with intent to supply on March 25.

Judge Bruce Macmillan will sentence all five men on November 10.

He told the court: "Police caught this conspiracy very much in its infancy.

"Had the matter been allowed to proceed, there would have been distribution and sales of amphetamine making enormous profits."

The judge told the men they had admitted becoming involved in serious offending and told them not to take the fact he was granting them bail in the meantime as an indication they would receive non-custodial sentences when they are back before the court next month.